Map puzzle



P 20, 1960 J. F. HASSENBACH 2,953,380

MAP PUZZLE Filed Sept. 19, 1957 Lx\\\\\\\\\ \\\1s((///// w Al INVENTOR ,JOHANA/ E HASSE NBA CH ATTORNEY 2,953,380 Patented Sept. 20, 1960 MAP PUZZLE Johann F. Hassenbach, 77 Rosemount Drive, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada Filed Sept. 19, 1957, Ser. No. 685,022

3 Claims. (Cl. 273-157) This invention relates to puzzles in general, and more particularly has reference to so-called jig saw puzzles, wherein a plurality of pieces must be interfitted for the purpose of forming a complete pictorial representation.

One important object of the present invention is to provide an improved puzzle having printed thereon a map of a selected geographical area, whereby to provide a highly interesting and amusing game while at the same time imparting to the child a learning of geography.

Another object is to combine, with a map-type jig saw puzzle, a puzzle construction wherein the puzzle comprises a plurality of rectangular pieces which are alike in respect to the general outer configuration thereof, but which are formed with outwardly projecting tongues and inwardly projecting slots, so arranged that a number of pieces can only be used at certain locations on the map, while other pieces could be interchanged with each other.

In this way, it is proposed to provide the child with a certain amount of assistance, to the extent that some pieces may be placed only at one particular location, while still requiring that the child learn a sufficient amount with respect to the geographical area as to properly select pieces which could be interchangeably used at a single location.

Another object is to provide, in a jig saw puzzle, means that will be designed to permit manufacture of the puzzle at an obviously low cost, considering the desirable characteristics thereof.

A further object is to provide interlocking means on adjacent pieces such as to insure a completely effective locking action.

Another object is to locate those pieces which can be used only at one location, rather than interchangeably at various locations, at the corners and in the border area only of the puzzle.

These together with other objects and advantages which will subsequently become apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof, wherein like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a puzzle according to the present invention, completely assembled;

Figure 2 is a sectional view transversely through the puzzle on an enlarged scale, taken on line 22 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a still further enlarged perspective view of one piece of the puzzle.

- Referring to the drawing in detail, the puzzle could be of any desired size and of any desired number of pieces. In the illustrated example the puzzle is completely square. This, however is not absolutely essential and the particular outer configuration could be varied. Further, the illustrated puzzle comprises sixteen pieces only, but again this is entirely at the option of the manufacturer. As will be noted in the illustrated example, the completed puzzle has depicted thereon a map of Italy and the immediately surrounding geographical area. Obviously any geographic entity could be shown, as for example a city, a country, a hemisphere, etc. In any event, in the illustrated example the puzzle includes a bottom row of flat, square pieces 10, 12, 12, 14. Pieces 10 and 14 are lower corner pieces and pieces 12 are lower intermediate pieces. Any number of intermediate rows could be employed in the puzzle. Two such rows are shown in the illustrated example. Each of these includes a side piece 16, intermediate pieces 18, 18 and a second side piece 20.

Further, a top row of flat rectangular pieces includes an upper corner piece 22, upper intermediate pieces 24, 24 and an upper corner piece 26.

When all the pieces are assembled, there is produced the required map and of course, in order to fit the pieces together there must be involved a suflicient knowledge of geography. This is due to the fact that a number of pieces are identical in respect to their shape and their locking means. In the drawing, all identical pieces bear the same reference numeral and it becomes obvious that one must select between the two pieces 12 to insure that they 'are properly placed; must select between the two pieces 16; the two pieces 24; the two pieces 20; and the four pieces 18.

All the corner pieces, however, difler one from another and the only requirement is that the proper corner be selected for each of these. The child thus has a certain amount of aid in respect to properly locating a corner piece, that is, the easiest task is to locate said corner pieces. The task next in difiiculty to that of choosing the corner pieces and locating them is the one that involves selecting between each of the pieces 12, 16, 20 or 24. These are all border pieces also. Finally, the user must make a selection out of four identically shaped pieces at all locations inwardly from the border, these being the pieces 18. It will be seen, thus, that the invention comprises the idea of different grades of difiiculty at different locations of the puzzle, with the task becoming progressively more difficult from the corners to the remaining portions of the borders and finally to the center area of the puzzle.

Considering the particular shape of each piece, piece 10 has a bottom and a right side which are straight and constitute a part of the periphery of the puzzle. Piece 10, on its top edge, has an upwardly projecting tongue 28 and a similar tongue is provided on the left hand side edge of said piece. The tongues are engageable in mating slots 3t) extending inwardly from the bottom and right edges of those pieces 16, 12 respectively, that are disposed immediately adjacent piece 10. Tongues 28 on their free ends have laterally projecting, triangular fingers 32 to provide a locking action, with the slots of course having complementary extensions 34 at their inner ends.

All the other pieces have tongues and/or slots. The pieces 12 have slots 30 on their right edges and tongues 28 projecting upwardly from their top edges, and also have tongues 28 on their left edges. Piece 14 has a slot and a tongue at its right and top edges respectively. Each piece 16 has a bottom slot, a left hand tongue, and a top tongue. Each piece 18 has a right hand slot, a bottom slot, at left hand tongue, and a top tongue. Each piece Zil has a right hand slot, a bottom slot, and a top tongue. The piece 22 has a bottom slot and a left hand tongue. Each piece 24 is provided with a right hand slot, at bottom slot, and a left hand tongue. Piece 26 has a right hand slot, and a bottom slot.

When the several pieces are properly assembled, they produce a map, and in the illustrated example it will be seen that the completed map has a representation at 36 of the Republic of Italy, and at 38 shows Sicily as a part of Italy.

It is apparent that one must have a certain knowledge 'a complete representation, corner pieces differing each from the others, at least two of geography to assemble the puzzle properly, and it will therefore be seen that in addition to providing a high degree of amusement for the child or student, the puzzle continues to build up to a very marked degree ones knowledge of geography. The puzzle is therefore valuable not only as an amusement means, but also has educational aid which can be used to advantage by the scholar.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A puzzle comprising a rectangular group of interfitting pieces of rectangular outer configuration and having alignable fragmentary surface indicia to form said pieces including four identical border pieces extending along each edge between adjacent corner pieces and differing from the corner pieces, and a plurality of identical middle pieces disposed inwardly from the border and corner pieces and differing therefrom; and interlocking means, on the several pieces for interengaging the same releasably against relative movement, the interlocking means of one corner piece comprising tongues projecting outwardly from two edges thereof, said means in a second corner piece comprising slots extending inwardly from two edges thereof, and in the third and fourth corner pieces comprising a tongue extending from one edge and a slot extending inwardly from a second edge.

2. A puzzle as in claim 1 wherein the border pieces include first and second pairs with each piece of a pair having a tongue extending from one edge and slots extending inwardly from two other edges thereof, and third and fourth pairs each piece of which has tongues extending from two edges thereof and a slot extending inwardly from a third edge thereof.

3. A puzzle as in claim 2 wherein the middle pieces have a tongue extending from two adjacent edge portions and slots extend inwardly from the two other edges thereof, the middle pieces comprising at least four identical pieces.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 964,065 Snedeker July 12, 1910 1,531,542 Cogshall Mar. 31, 1925 2,529,321 Warren Nov. 7, 1950 

